About Paws4Survival Rescue

Paws4Survival Rescue is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of Puerto Rican street dogs ("satos") and cats (gatos").

Paws4Survival Rescue was founded in October 2015. Our home base is in Massachusetts, and our animals are fostered in New York, Massachusetts, and surrounding states.

Our President and Vice President volunteered for another organization that rescues dogs from Puerto Rico and decided to venture out on their own. After trips to the island on vacation, they both vowed to do as much as they could once they returned home.

Our President's husband is from a small town in the southeast area of Puerto Rico called Arroyo. Arroyo is stricken with abandoned dogs and cats on every street corner with no formal animal education and limited resources to assist.

We strive to be a community organization and support local rescuers in Puerto Rico whenever possible. We provide veterinary care, shelter, and socialization in our partner doggie daycare facility and many fabulous foster homes across New England & New York.

What are satos and gatos?!

The dogs we rescue are also known as "satos"--The cats we rescue are also known as "gatos", There are an estimated 300,000+ dogs and over 500,000 cats roaming the streets and beaches of Puerto Rico, either born into homelessness or abandoned.

Puerto Rico is an island the size of Connecticut; it has 78 cities. While each city is required by law to have an animal shelter, there are very few, and the ones they do have are unequipped and underfunded.

98% of animals entering local shelters are euthanized due to overpopulation and illness.

Over 500 dogs and cats will die each day in the island's control agencies because of overpopulation.

Less than 10% of the pet population in Puerto Rico EVER visit a veterinary clinic.

There are roughly 450 "pet shops" selling unhealthy, uncertified, and poorly kept animals. Many are illegally vaccinating and treating dogs.

In October 2016, Paws4Survival also began rescuing cats.

OUR STATISTICS

YEAR ONE: October 2015-October 2016

135 dogs rescued

YEAR TWO: October 2016-October 2017

150 dogs; 235 cats

Volunteers across Puerto Rico, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey: 22 individuals and growing

If you are visiting Puerto Rico and you want to rescue a dog to take home with you-- BRAVO!

Please feel free to contact us by email at MerylWright@aol.com ... We would be happy to walk you through the necessary steps to get that canine companion ready for their flight home!